Solupay Blog

Visa announced in April 2018 they will be releasing new chargeback rules with a focus on improving the overall process for merchants with a new Visa Claims Resolution (VCR) process. Even for merchants who have taken all the steps and follow all the recommendations to avoid the likelihood of chargebacks, they are an unfortunate and inevitable fact of life in today's business environment. Whether it's a chargeback due to fraud, or friendly fraud where a customer disputes a charge they honestly don't remember making, they happen and can be a process pain for merchants. Visa's goal with VCR is to make the process simpler.

With CNP fraud on the rise since the EMV chargeback liability in the US took effect last October, it's in the best interest of retailers engaging in eCommerce and taking phone orders to increase their focus on securing those transactions. Here are 10 ways to detect and prevent fraud to avoid chargebacks on Card Not Present transactions:

Credit card chargebacks can often be the bane of a small business owner’s existence. They require significant investments in time and labor to research and respond. Let’s face it: The card issuing banks have lobbied for years to ensure that the cardholders receive the benefit of the doubt when there is a chargeback case, not the merchant.

A little unknown fact is that the bank that issued the credit card involved in a chargeback is the decision maker between the merchant and cardholder as to who wins the chargeback case. This decision is based on the documentation received by both parties. The only point in which the cardholder receives an unbiased decision on a chargeback case is if the merchant loses the chargeback case and wants to ultimately take it to arbitration. At that stage, representatives from the card companies are involved in the decision. Unfortunately this is somewhat of a gamble, as there is a fee as high as $400 if the merchant takes the case to arbitration and LOSES. Once again, the rules are slanted in the cardholders favor.

With October 2015 fast approaching for the Chargeback Liability Shift, EMV is a trending topic, whether you are a merchant, bank, or payment processor. The EMV Chargeback liability shift pertains to card present transactions only. We have put together this eGuide to assist in educating and guiding your understanding of EMV and how it impacts you.

EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) is a now the global standard for inter-operation of integrated circuit cards, or "chip cards"). Chargeback liability for all merchants without EMV by October 2015 will end up on the doorstep of that merchant. If you do not offer EMV and someone uses a fraudulent card at your location, you are liable. If you accept EMV, you are not.

And how about all those stolen cards from merchant data bases? If you do not use EMV, and someone breaches your security and steals your customer data, you will be responsible for any purchases made with that stolen data. If you accept EMV, you are not liable. This is called a chargeback liability shift --- from the issuing banks to the merchant. And it all adds up to one incredible and compelling argument to join the EMV revolution.